I believe that pride is a very deceptive sin. We do many things and feel many emotions because of pride. For instance, why does it bother me when others don’t agree with me? Is it because in my mind I know that I am right, or is it because my pride is wounded? Do we shop at certain places because we think they are better than other places because those we think are financially secure shop there? Do you refuse to shop for deals or clip coupons because you don’t want people to think you can’t afford the regular price? It is pride that causes racism, sarcastic remarks, and a feeling of superiority. Pride lives at the core of our being, and it is a hard battle to win. The Bible speaks much about pride. It is a sin and God hates it. It is a sin that can only be defeated by allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to control our thinking and our actions.
Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
A great example in scripture of a man who thought his plan was better than that of God’s man, is Naaman. In II Kings chapter 5, we see the account of Naaman. He was captain of the host of the king of Syria. Verse 1 tells us that he was a great man to his master. He was honorable, and a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
You can read the full account of the story in II Kings 5. It reveals the story of a powerful man, a man who had prestige, power, and money, but he had a disease that was incurable. When the Syrians raided the Israelites, those they captured were brought back to be slaves. One such young girl was brought back to serve Naaman’s wife. This little girl was a captive, yet she sought the well-being of her master. She informed Naaman’s wife that there was a man, an Israelite in Samaria, that could heal Naaman. Desperate, Naaman told the King, and plans were made for Naaman to go. When Naaman arrived, he delivered a letter from his King to the King of Israel which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” The King was distressed and thought the King of Syria was trying to pick a fight. When Elisha the prophet heard about the King’s distress, he sent a message to the King of Israel to send Naaman to him. He would tell Naaman what to do to be healed so that all would know that there was a prophet of God in Israel.
II Kings 5:2-3 “Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord was with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
When Naaman reached the home of Elisha, Elisha sent a messenger to tell Naaman to go to the river Jordan, dip 7 times, and your flesh will be restored and you will be healed. However, Naaman was very angry that Elisha himself did not come and he certainly didn’t want to wash in the Jordan River. He was proud and felt that he was above washing in a river he considered unclean. He wanted a fanfare healing. In II Kings 5:11, he shows his anger by making the statement that he expected Elisha to come out himself and wave his hand over his leprosy and heal him. He also wanted to go to rivers in his area that he felt were cleaner. He wanted to be healed, but he wanted it his way.
II Kings 5:9-12 “So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So, he turned and went away in a rage.”
His pride was going to keep him a leper, but his wise servants brought him to his senses. In verses 13 and 14, they reasoned with him and said, if God’s man had asked you to do something great wouldn’t you have done it? All Elisha is asking is for you to do is dip 7 times in the river Jordan. These wise servants saved Naaman’s life by convincing him to obey Elisha.
II Kings 5:13-14 “And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”
Naaman was full of pride. If he had not surrendered his pride, he would probably have died a painful death. Leprosy was an incurable disease and they died alone because of fear of others getting the disease. Pride is a sneaky sin that lurks in all of us. If pride is not dealt with as a sin and repented of, it will lead to destruction.
Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
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